What kind of pc can I get for $400 ?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
I already have a hard drive but if I could get another one and still have the price less than $400 that would be great! I don't need a monitor really. Would be nice to have a new one but I already have one that has been working very well for me. My current pc is very old.

I don't really know if I am going to get back into gaming or not. Haven't really played any new games yet because my current pc won't beable to handle them. Is it possible to include a pretty good video card in the $400 price tag so if I decide to play newer games my new system will handle them ?

 
A

Agentbolt

Diamond Member
Jul 9, 2004
3,340
1
0
For 400 bucks? No. Maybe you could just barely kinda-sorta scratch something together with integrated graphics, but it won't play games.

Sans hard drive and monitor, to get a new computer that'll play today's games you are looking at 700 bucks minimum.
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: Agentbolt
For 400 bucks? No. Maybe you could just barely kinda-sorta scratch something together with integrated graphics, but it won't play games.

Sans hard drive and monitor, to get a new computer that'll play today's games you are looking at 700 bucks minimum.
Click to expand...

What if I kept using my Geforce 4 ti card ?

Its a 4600. I was able to overclock it some. It still has a little bit of good use.

 
M

moosey

Golden Member
Apr 18, 2001
1,331
0
76
Here's a basic idea using Newegg as a reference...

Socket 939
Basic Case - $30-$50...get what looks nice to you
Foxconn MB $55 after rebate (integrated sound)
Athlon 64 3400+ $50
Socket 939 heatsink...anywhere from under $10 and up according to your needs
1GB Corsair $75
FSP 400W PSU $45
7600GT $100 after rebate

TOTAL: ~$385

Edit: Just get a HDD later if you can. Otherwise, you may have to go socket 754 to get under budget, but I'd go 939 if possible.
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: moosey
Here's a basic idea using Newegg as a reference...

Socket 939
Basic Case - $30-$50...get what looks nice to you
Foxconn MB $55 after rebate (integrated sound)
Athlon 64 3400+ $50
Socket 939 heatsink...anywhere from under $10 and up according to your needs
1GB Corsair $75
FSP 400W PSU $45
7600GT $100 after rebate

TOTAL: ~$385

Edit: Just get a HDD later if you can. Otherwise, you may have to go sockey 754 to get under budget.
Click to expand...


Is this a good pc for the price ?

What if I want to use my old Geforce 4 ti card, my santa cruz sound card, and 250 gb maxtor 7200 rpm hard drive from my old system ? What could I get then for $400 ?

 
M

moosey

Golden Member
Apr 18, 2001
1,331
0
76
The GF4 is AGP right? You'd have to get an AGP motherboard. Start with that and build up. You can still use your sound card and HDD with the above system though, just not an AGP video card.
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Would this be a good buy?

ECS GeForce6100SM-M (1.0) Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100S Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
AMD Sempron 64 3000+ Manila 1.6GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model SDA3000CNBOX - Retail Combo Motherboard and processor $82.98

A-DATA 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1908K - Retail $72.99

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RS-430-PMSR/P 430W Power Supply - Retail $34.99

EVGA 256-P2-N550 -T2 GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $119.99

Good Case $50 to $100
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: moosey
The GF4 is AGP right? You'd have to get an AGP motherboard. Start with that and build up. You can still use your sound card and HDD with the above system though, just not an AGP video card.
Click to expand...

Sadly yes :(

Is it still a good enough gaming video card or to outdated to even worry about? Should I just throw it away ?
 
I

ImDonly1

Platinum Member
Dec 17, 2004
2,357
0
76
You won't be playing new games. The Ti 4600 is old. And from your PC parts that you posted the sempron is a budget/crappy processor. Go with what the other guy posted. Or buy used stuff from the for sale forum or eBay. You might be able to get a few better parts than what he posted. I.E. the 7600GT can be upgraded to a 7900 since they are almost the same price.
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: ImDonly1
You won't be playing new games. The Ti 4600 is old. And from your PC parts that you posted the sempron is a budget/crappy processor. Go with what the other guy posted. Or buy used stuff from the for sale forum or eBay.
Click to expand...

Thank you. If I bought use what kind of system could I build instead for $400 please?
 
M

moosey

Golden Member
Apr 18, 2001
1,331
0
76
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Originally posted by: ImDonly1
You won't be playing new games. The Ti 4600 is old. And from your PC parts that you posted the sempron is a budget/crappy processor. Go with what the other guy posted. Or buy used stuff from the for sale forum or eBay.
Click to expand...

Thank you. If I bought use what kind of system could I build instead for $400 please?
Click to expand...

Whatever you find that may be better or cheaper than what's posted above. Look around the forum.
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: moosey
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Originally posted by: ImDonly1
You won't be playing new games. The Ti 4600 is old. And from your PC parts that you posted the sempron is a budget/crappy processor. Go with what the other guy posted. Or buy used stuff from the for sale forum or eBay.
Click to expand...

Thank you. If I bought use what kind of system could I build instead for $400 please?
Click to expand...

Whatever you find that may be better or cheaper than what's posted above. Look around the forum.
Click to expand...

Who is more trustworthy ebay or the for sale forum here?
 
I

ImDonly1

Platinum Member
Dec 17, 2004
2,357
0
76
Cheap case $30-50
7900GS $130 (Hot deals forum)
AM2 Motherboard $100
3800+ X2 CPU $100
Ram $75

It breaks the $400 but its close enough these prices are estimates of course you should try and see what the parts are ending for on eBay and FS/FT forums. Check hot deals too.
 
I

ImDonly1

Platinum Member
Dec 17, 2004
2,357
0
76
Who is more trustworthy ebay or the for sale forum here?
Click to expand...
eBay might be cheaper, I never had a problem with either. Just look at feedback and use some sense when buying from people.
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: ImDonly1
Cheap case $30-50
7900GS $130 (Hot deals forum)
AM2 Motherboard $100
3800+ X2 CPU $100
Ram $75

It breaks the $400 but its close enough these prices are estimates of course you should try and see what the parts are ending for on eBay and FS/FT forums. Check hot deals too.
Click to expand...

Thanks I guess I should throw away my Geforce ti sense its pretty much useless now.
 
A

Ataraxia

Member
Feb 23, 2007
49
0
0
You might as well get a laptop and get more use out of it. It would be incapable of playing games however...

A used one is easily obtainable for about $400 with some pretty decent specs.
 
S

Slammy1

Platinum Member
Apr 8, 2003
2,112
0
76
I'd see what's available on Craiglist in your area. It's what I came up with when I tried to find the cheapest usable PC for a friend.

EDIT: Sorry for accidental DP...
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
jpeyton

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Originally posted by: jpeyton
AMD X2 3600+ & ECS R485M-M $128

Alpine64 Heatsink/Fan $10

1GB DDR2 667 RAM $61

Radeon X1900GT $130

Inwin MATX Case & 350W PSU $50

Western Digital 80GB SATA $43

Lite-On 18X CD/DVD Burner $29

Total: $451 plus shipping/tax.
Click to expand...



Wow!

I could use my current CD/DVD Burner and hard drive to drop the price even further!

If I did would that $72 be better spent on nothing or upgrading some of the other current components a little more?
Click to expand...

Yes, I'd spend an extra $30 on a better case/PSU, like this one.
 
P

pcslookout

Lifer
Mar 18, 2007
11,959
157
106
Originally posted by: jpeyton
Originally posted by: pcslookout
Originally posted by: jpeyton
AMD X2 3600+ & ECS R485M-M $128

Alpine64 Heatsink/Fan $10

1GB DDR2 667 RAM $61

Radeon X1900GT $130

Inwin MATX Case & 350W PSU $50

Western Digital 80GB SATA $43

Lite-On 18X CD/DVD Burner $29

Total: $451 plus shipping/tax.
Click to expand...



Wow!

I could use my current CD/DVD Burner and hard drive to drop the price even further!

If I did would that $72 be better spent on nothing or upgrading some of the other current components a little more?
Click to expand...

Yes, I'd spend an extra $30 on a better case/PSU, like this one.
Click to expand...


Thanks. Thats a pretty cool case but it doesn't have a slide out motherboard tray.

Do you think this pc would be a huge difference from my current pc and make all the difference in the world ?

Would I beable to play new games in at least 1024x768 with all details on high? Even FSAA and AF enabled at like xx and 16x?

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom